Winter sports enthusiasts have known it for a long time: The best parties of the winter sports season in Tyrol are celebrated in Ischgl. Before it gets hot in the resort’s après-ski huts in the evening, cool skiing fun is the order of the day in the Silvretta Arena: a total of 238 kilometers of slopes at an altitude of 2,872 m offer fun on the slopes for everyone – from the absolute beginner to the experienced professional.

1) General information about the Silvretta Arena

• Two-country ski area Ischgl (Austria) and Samnaun (Switzerland)
• 238 kilometers of slopes with 45 lifts up to a height of 2,872 m.
• The JEEP ® Snowpark Ischgl is the largest contiguous freestyle park in the Alps.
• “Ischgl SkyFly”: Fly on a rope 50 meters above the ground into the valley

The Silvretta Arena ski area is spread over the Austrian Paznaun Valley around Ischgl and the Swiss holiday region Scuol-Samnaun in the Engadin and comprises a total of 238 kilometers of slopes and 15 kilometers of ski routes at an altitude of between 1,377 and 2,872 m. The contrast between the Tyrolean party stronghold Ischgl and the tranquil Samnaun could hardly be greater.

Winter sports enthusiasts will find the entire range of alpine winter sports around Ischgl. Beginners and those returning to the sport prefer to romp about on the blue slopes of the Idalp, where most of the ski huts are located. A total of eleven black pistes on the Austrian side, with superlatives of up to 70% incline, ensure a thrill.

The kilometers of slopes are spread over 38 km of green and blue slopes, 155 km of red slopes and 45 km of black slopes. The altitude and sophisticated modern snowmaking systems guarantee snow security until well into spring. The average snow depth on the mountain during the season is 104 cm. Around 60 days of sunshine per season offer pure skiing pleasure on the slopes.

The 45 lifts have undergone a makeover in recent years: the new 8-seater Idalp chairlift on the Flimjoch went into operation, as did the new Pardatschgrat lift, designed as a three-cable gondola. Freeriders are looking forward to the new Piz Val Gronda aerial tramway that will take them to the Fimbatal.

2) Silvretta Arena slope map

3) Skiing in the Silvretta Arena ski area

Exciting challenges await cracks between 1,400 and 3,000 m altitude. The number “14a” is whispered with the greatest respect: This slope offers a gradient of up to 70%. Route Eleven guarantees burning thighs: from the 2,872 meter high Greitspitz it leads over 11 kilometers into the valley to Ischgl. The descent from the Pardatschgrat at an altitude of 2,624 m is just as thrilling.

A real challenge is the mogul slope at the mountain station of the Höllspitzbahn where only real experts exist. An insider tip is the scenic Vellital run away from the hustle and bustle. You can get there with the Vellibahn B1 or the Gratbahn B8. Sure, for such a comprehensive offer for experts and freeriders, the experts give a full five points for the Silvretta Arena ski area.

In the Snow Sports Academy on the Idalp, beginners of all ages can take group courses or book individual skiing or snowboarding lessons. Then you can practice on the Idalp’s beautiful beginner slopes. The offer for beginners is enough for four stars of the experts. There are three points for the offer for families and children with a youth club and ski kindergarten – the party stronghold Ischgl is not primarily geared towards this target group.

Speaking of parties: If you want to party at noon, the Paznauer Taja ski hut at 2,000 m is the place to be: DJs play here from 12 noon until the last departure at 4 p.m.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle in Ischgl, head over the summit to Samnaun in the Engadine. A real highlight here is the smugglers’ tour: where smugglers once transported coveted goods through the mountains past customs, ski hikers can now explore the wonderful nature in three levels of difficulty (bronze, silver and gold).

Snowboarders and freestylers get sparkling eyes when talking about the JEEP® Snowpark in the Silvretta Arena: Probably the longest snowpark in the Alps is spread over the upper Vellil and lower Idalp arenas in three parks: In the beginner park, beginners practice their first moves while the public park with funcrossline, banked curves, kickers, rails and more is open to every experienced freestyler.

The Kingsizepark is a Mecca for professionals who come to Ischgl from all over the world to practice. But that’s not all: Beyond the border, Samnaun offers another attractive fun park for experienced snowboarders and freestylers with the Obstacle Freestyle Board Park.

4) Expert evaluation

Ski experts love the Silvretta Arena ski area: with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, it is one of the best-rated ski areas in the Alps.

5) Off-piste activities

Ischgl advertises with the slogan “Relax. If you can… ”that says it all: Those who come to Ischgl come to celebrate. The “Top of the Mountain” concerts on the Idalp stage are legendary and have been luring world stars from Elton John to Rihanna to the Alps since 1995 at the start of the season, at Easter and at the end of the season. But Ischgl also offers a packed event calendar with concerts, parties and events such as the annual snow sculpture competition.

During the day, skiers and snowboarders can fortify themselves in the 14 rustic huts and mountain restaurants of the Silvretta Arena.

The most spectacular view is offered by the Pardorama restaurant on the Pardatschgrat at a height of 2,624 m, a three-story new building with a self-service restaurant on the ground floor, a gourmet restaurant on the second floor and Austria’s highest conference room.

The Idalp-Panorama-Restaurant presents itself rustic and rustic at 2,320 m with Austrian specialties. The traditional Skihaus Alp Vida near Samnaun serves Swiss delicacies.

Whether bright sunshine or a starry night: On the natural ice rink in Ischgl, you can slide weightlessly on runners at any time – or play a curling tournament with friends. The many snow-covered winter hiking trails around Ischgl promise peace and solitude. If you like, you can hike in the footsteps of the smugglers from Ischgl over the peaks to Samnaun in Switzerland.

6) Locations in the Silvretta Arena ski area

The focal point of the Silvretta Arena is the party stronghold Ischgl at an altitude of 1,377 m in the Paznaun Valley. The once sleepy mountain village has turned into the wintery counterpart of Ibiza, where the evening après-ski party in the numerous bars and clubs is at least as important as the daily skiing fun on the slopes. Ischgl presents itself as young, exuberant and international in the winter season. If you’re looking for action and atmosphere, you’ve come to the right place.

On the Swiss side of the Silvretta Arena, Samnaun welcomes its guests with more tranquility than with the hype. Children love the wonderland “Winter Flower Dream” with a ski school, heated tent to play with and magic carpets. Adults enjoy shopping in Samnaun, because the place is the only duty-free zone in Switzerland. Perfumes, jewelry, spirits, branded clothing and more are unbeatably cheap here.

But be careful: If you go shopping on a day trip from Ischgl to Samnaun, you have to ask the Austrian customs officers on the way back!

7) Arrival in the Silvretta Arena ski area

On the Austrian side, the journey to the Silvretta Arena ski area is via the Silvretta Bundesstrasse (118) through the Paznaun Valley. From the Pians / Paznaun / Ischgl exit of the Arlberg expressway S16 it is about 23 kilometers. In Ischgl there are free parking spaces and underground garages for a fee, as well as the “Parking Lounge” of the mountain railway company for day guests.

The journey to Samnaun on the Swiss side takes place from Innsbruck via the A12 to the Oberinntal junction, from there via the B180 in the direction of Pfunds to the Spiss border crossing and on to Samnaun. Coming from the west (Switzerland), the journey takes place through the Vereina tunnel and the Vinada tunnel (federal road B27) to Spiss.

Getting to the Silvretta Arena ski area by public transport is tedious: three buses are required from the next train station in Imst to reach Ischgl (Imst train station – Imst Terminal Post, Imst Terminal Post – Landeck, Landeck – Ischgl).

With the SBB it goes for example from Zurich with two changes in Landquart and Scuol-Tarasp (there on the bus) to Samnaun, with the ÖBB from Innsbruck Hbf with three changes (Sargans, Landquart, Scuol-Tarasp) to Samnaun. It is easier from the train stations in Imst or Innsbruck Hbf or from Innsbruck Airport with a taxi / shuttle service.